BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 12/3

BuzzSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:30:17 PST

Folk music legend Odetta has died at age 77. - AP
Shia LaBeouf will play the title role in the big screen version of John Grisham's upcoming legal thriller The Associate. - Variety
In addition to Reaper, the CW's midseason schedule includes 13: Fear Is Real. - Zap2it
Kanye West edged Guns N' Roses and Taylor Swift for the top spot on the Billboard charts. - Billboard
VH1 has picked up a matchmaking reality series from Drew Barrymore's production company. - Variety
It's possible that Kevin McKidd will star as Thor in Kenneth Branagh's film project. - ComingSoon
John Malkovich and Hugh Laurie will be the final two Saturday Night Live hosts of the year, Malkovich this weekend and Laurie on Dec. 13. - The Futon Critic

Obama Compromises on Contraception

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:20:55 PST

Despite the fact that 99 percent of women who have ever had sex - religious or not - have used contraception, the Obama administration's decision to make birth control free under all employer health insurance packages has caused a controversy. Today, the White House announced that it will make a change to its new policy to accommodate religious institutions, such as Catholic hospitals and universities, who do not want to cover prescriptions like the pill. Under the compromise, religious employers would not have to offer free birth control. Rather, insurance companies themselves would have to provide free contraception to workers at religiously sponsored institutions if the worker requests it.

The original policy, similar to laws that already exist in states like California and Oregon, would have required groups affiliated with religious institutions, like hospitals, charities, and universities, to provide insurance plans that cover birth control for free. Churches themselves would be exempt. But some religions, like the Catholic Church, oppose all forms of birth control, and leaders, especially the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, put pressure on the White House to change course, threatening to make this a major campaign issue.

So far, it looks like the compromise has pleased both sides. Planned Parenthood's President Cecile Richards said it "does not compromise a woman's ability to access this critical birth control benefits," and Sister Carol Keehan, the president of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, says she is "pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated."

Fat-Proof Your Life

Health — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:06:06 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

By Maridel Reyes

It's true that there are certain times in your life when extra poundage seems to appear out of nowhere . . . and settle on you. In fact, experts have honed in on the exact moments when you're most vulnerable to weight gain.

"Life transitions, having a baby, and going through menopause cause many women to pile on pounds," says Susan Albers, PsyD, author of But I Deserve This Chocolate!: The 50 Most Common Diet-Derailing Excuses and How to Outwit Them. "But with planning and prep, you can stay thin."

We asked top experts for their strategies to help you ward off weight creep - and even shed pounds - at these tricky stages. Solutions ahead.

Getting married

Heavier ever after? It can be the flip side of wedded bliss: "Six out of 10 of my clients come back heavier after the honeymoon," says celebrity fitness and wellness guru David Kirsch.

Health.com: 25 Diet-Busting Foods You Should Never Eat

Young newlyweds pack on an extra six to nine pounds in the five years after getting hitched compared to singletons, according to research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. And most of that gain happens in the first year of marriage.

"Couples start to mirror each other's eating habits," explains Albers. "You might be matching him calorie for calorie without realizing it."

Learn how to keep the pounds down postmarriage and in the mommy years, after the break.

Name That Movie: "Heart" Filled Edition

Lizzie Fuhr — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:00 PST

With Valentine's season upon us, we've decided to celebrate in a movie-filled way. Not all these films may be the romantic comedies you might associate with the holiday, but they each have the word "heart" perfectly placed somewhere in the title. Can you match the photo to the movie it comes from? And don't worry - even if you don't get 100 percent, we'll still love you.

Question 1 of 5

Name that movie:

Struggling to Pay Off Student Loans? Here's How to Delay Them

Emily Co — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:15:28 PST

More people are facing bankruptcy because of student loan obligations, according to a survey by the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. In fact, the student loan debt has passed $1 trillion, which is more than the nation's credit card debt.

There are several things you can do to put off paying your loans, but it's advisable to pay them on schedule. Still, there may be times where you simply can't make ends meet and pay off your loans. Here are some of your options (which many of you may already be implementing!):

Deferment: You have to meet certain qualifications for deferring, and those include being in school, having economic hardship, being unemployed, and more. Deferment is only temporary and only available for a limited period. When you defer, interest doesn't accrue on subsidized loans, but interest will still keep accumulating on your unsubsidized student loans.
Forbearance: If you don't qualify for deferment, you might be granted a forbearance. Your lender will let you pause your payments or reduce them for a period of time, but interest will continue to accrue.

Remember, there may be repayment plans that may work for you instead of deferment and forbearance, so be sure to assess all your options before making a decision.

Our "Roadway to My Heart" Downloadable Valentine Is Perfect For School!

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:32:24 PST

Who needs hearts, kisses, and all that pink? If your home is filled with lil ones who'd rather play with cars, trucks, and things that go than add some glitter to a valentine he'll hand out at school, we've got just the card for you! We were challenged by the editors at Martha Stewart's Living in the Family Room blog to create a boy-friendly valentine that would get tots excited about more than the candy associated with Feb. 14.

The result: "Roadway to My Heart," an interactive card that combines a downloadable valentine and Matchbox cars.

Keep reading for the free download and step-by-step instructions for creating the card at home.

11 Things You Need to Throw Away

Emily Co — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:05:07 PST

The first step to taking care of yourself and de-stressing is to make sure that your environment is in order. Seeing your house full of clutter can affect your mood negatively and make your personal space seem like a place you want to escape from, rather than something to look forward to coming home to. Organize a "throwing out" day every month to make sure that you don't have clutter building up. Here are some things you should consider purging from your home:

Old magazines. Get rid of old magazines you have lying around because chances are, you aren't going to read them again. Find places where you can donate your magazines to such as child care centers, doctor's offices, nail salons, nursing homes, and libraries. If there's an article that really speaks to you, scan a digital image of it and keep it in your computer. Or keep a folder of magazine clippings if you like saving magazine articles.
Receipts, bills, and documents. Throw away receipts for items that you aren't planning on returning, and ones that you won't need to use come tax time. If you're wary of throwing away receipts, you can make a digital copy of them with a basic scanner, a pricey specialized receipt scanner ($174), or a smartphone app ($2). See here for a full list of documents you should keep forever or temporarily.
Clothes. Use the two-year-rule for clothes - get rid of apparel that you haven't worn in two years. Sell them to a thrift store (find a thrift store at thethriftshopper.com) or donate them to the needy.
Books. Go through your bookshelf and gather together books you haven't touched in months and ones that you aren't planning on rereading. Be realistic and make sure you're ruthless. If you haven't touched it in a year, you're most likely not going to read it again. Sell the books on Amazon, Craigslist, or eBay. You can even trade them for something else on swap.com. You can always donate them as well!
Medicine and vitamins. Take a look at your medicine closet and clear out drugs that have expired, medicine that has sat on your shelf for too long, or ones that you no longer use. First, check to see what the proper disposal methods are for the medication, and if you can't find any, check to see if your community has a drug take-back program. If there isn't a program near you, then the FDA advises mixing medicine with "used coffee grounds or kitty litter" in a container or sealable bag before throwing it away to make the drugs less appealing.

For more things to throw away, read on.

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Being a Sports Fan

Prevention — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:19:15 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By Cristina Goyanes, Prevention

It’s no wonder your friends aren’t available to hang out on Sundays in the Fall and Winter - according to a 2005 Gallup Poll, 64 percent of Americans claim to be professional football fans, and as of 2010, women make up 44 percent of the NFL fan base.

Being a sports fan doesn’t mean you’re expected to know all the players and stats of your hometown teams and destined for a beer gut - it’s about coming together in the name of good times as part of a community.

“Bonding over sports - the highs and lows of the game - strengthens ties, helps us feel supported, and makes it easier for you to open up about personal things,” says Renee Clauselle, PsyD, who runs a private psychology practice in Long Island, NY.

Seventeen Unexpected Side Effects of Exercise

Rooting for the same team creates an immediate sense of family, says Daniel Wann, PhD, a Murray State University professor who has been studying the psychology of sports fans for over 20 years. “If you identify with a local team, you build an instant connection to others around you,” he says.

Beyond the bonding aspects, watching sports can motivate you to pump up your own workouts - and even burn a few extra calories when you jump, cheer, and clap during the highlights of the game. Find out more ways being a sports fan is a winning situation for your health.

Keep reading to learn how being a sports fan benefits your health.

25 Heart-Melting Decorating DIYs For a Last-Minute Valentine's Day Bash

Angela Swinderman Elias — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:53:15 PST

Maybe it stems from early memories of classroom-wide Valentine's Day card-exchanging sessions, but I've never pigeon-holed the holiday as a day for lovers. I like to think of it as a day to indulge the people that you care about, and what better way to indulge them than with a small soiree to celebrate the occasion? With the abundance of hearts, sweets, and the color pink associated with this time of year, I feel like it's a shame not to take advantage of a little girl time. If you're still toying with the idea of inviting your girlfriends over for a last-minute celebration this weekend, see if this roundup of super-stylish Valentine's Day DIY decorations is the deciding factor. I know I'm considering it!

Victoria Beckham Talks Insecurities and Inspiration in i-D

Lauren Turner — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:42:46 PST

Victoria Beckham gets quirky on the cover of i-D magazine's "Whatever the Weather" issue, which hits newsstands on Feb. 9. She posed in skimpy clothes for the playful spread after also donning a leotard in Numéro Tokyo last month. Victoria's been working on her collection in London as she gears up for Fashion Week while her husband, David, recently debuted his own underwear line for H&M. Victoria chatted about her insecurities and inspiration for her clothes in the publication. Here's more from Victoria Beckham in i-D magazine:

On her changing style: "When I started it was all about the corset dress. That's what people associated me with, and possibly if I'm honest a sign of my own insecurities as well. But the older I get and the more comfortable I am in my own skin, the more I realise that to look great and feel great I haven't always got to wear something tight."
On her design inspiration: "I don't follow fashion and I don't follow trends, I just follow my instincts and think what do I want to wear? What am I feeling for next season?"